Major League Baseball

Twins' Casilla headed to DL for hamstring strain

Published Jul. 29, 2011 2:52 a.m. ET

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Minnesota Twins second baseman Alexi Casilla was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday night with a right hamstring strain.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said before Thursday's series finale at Texas that Casilla had already returned to Minnesota to begin rehabilitation. Casilla got hurt in the ninth inning Wednesday night while running to second base on his double.

''He was a second-hole hitter who was hitting great, playing great defense, been doing all the things you like to see,'' Gardenhire said. `All of a sudden this happens. Our depth in the middle infield isn't the greatest. You can't afford to have too many injuries like that. So you've got to have people step up.''

During Thursday night's game, the Twins said that infielder Luke Hughes would be recalled from Triple-A Rochester and was expected to be in uniform for Friday night's game at Oakland. Hughes hit .237 in 60 games earlier this season for the Twins.

Twins trainer Rick McWane said Casilla would be out two to three weeks.

The Twins earlier Thursday recalled infielder Matt Tolbert from Triple-A Rochester and optioned left-hander Chuck James to Rochester.

Tolbert started at second base for the finale against the Rangers.

The switch-hitting Casilla was hitting .259 with two homers and 21 RBIs in his 96 games. He also had 15 stolen bases.

Tolbert batted ninth Thursday night and shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka moved into the No. 2 spot in the batting order, where Casilla had been for 61 games.

''He's had success in Japan and been an All-Star, but he's still a rookie here because he hasn't seen this before,'' Gardenhire said of Nishioka. ''It's an experience.''

Nishioka went into Thursday night's game hitting only .214 in 43 games.

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